Best HD format to work with?

Rippie

Rippie

Veteran
I'm a casual editor, but I just got a job doing a training video. (low budget)

I'll be renting my camera and would love opinions on
what HD formats are easy to import (I dont want to rent a deck if possible)
and work with in Vegas.

I'm thinking maybe a Panasonic HDX200 but Ive never
worked with the P2 work flow.
Other options could be the ex1, ex3 (I rarely am around these)

On the bigger things I could go with a Panasonic
HDX900 which is tape based or Varicam which would be overkill for this.

I guess I'm just asking for opinions on what works well for you.
What formats don't struggle like the avchd format does...etc

Can p2 footage be captured directly out of the camera?
Or Ex1?

Thanks
 
Any tape-based DVCPRO HD camera wouldn't be usable with anything but V9, and even then, it'll be knocked down to MPEG-2.

The P2 workflow is fine if you have Raylight. Then, you just drop the Video MXF files onto the timeline. Most computers will handle 720 just like it's DV, and most current computers will handle 1080 that well, too. (Just make sure to shoot 24pA.)
 
David stupid question but does the 200 have any other options besides mxf?
(I dont own raylight)
I remember back when people used firestores you had a quicktime option
although im guessing the xmf is the only choice on the actual camera.

If I would go ahead and purchase raylight can I get the footage directly
off of the camera via firewire? Hate to have to rent a deck if I dont have to.

Thanks for the info.
Sorry for the noob questions.
Ive been around every camera out there a zillion times but I dont work in post.
I might even hire an editor to do this for me but I'll want him to use my system to its available to me
at any given time.
 
No, when the HVX records to P2, it's in MXF, no matter what the codec. No other file formats.

Yes, you can use the camera as a card reader over USB. No deck necessary. You can also get a $90 PCMCIA (Type II, 32-bit) slot for your computer which will accept the cards.
 
If you can stand rolling shutter, XDCam EX works great in vegas (as it should since they're both sony), EX1/EX3 and JVC HM700u all can record to it (the JVC can do the mp4's on SD cards or SxS with the adapter).

I'm too cheap for raylight right now, but I really want it.
 
I'd shoot the EX1/EX3. Of course I am biased because I own one. Quality is excellent for this level of work, workflow is seamless in Vegas (and most other NLEs). No transcode is necessary unless you want to do some significant color correction, and it cuts like HDV on the timeline if you have a modern computer. No deck is required.

I'd shoot onto SD cards as they are cheap, work fine, and you can put them in any $25 USB adapter and read them on any machine.
 
Well in the end I decided to buy a mac book pro and final cut hah.

Thanks for the help guys.
 
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